CHRISTMAS is a time for giving - something the Advertiser's readers have surpassed themselves at for our Dr Kershaw's appeal.

It has been another frantic week, both at our office and down at the Turf Lane hospice, as we continue to work through the hundreds of donations and letters that have flooded in since our 'Bring a Pound to Work' event on December 10.

There are too many selfless acts to mention them all, but amongst the latest are a £1,000 donation from staff at British Gas, £400 from BAE Systems and £400-plus from staff at Littlewoods in Shaw. And donations from countless schools, workplaces and organisations continue to pour in.

Brian Hurst, Dr Kershaw's Appeals Manager, said: "We would like to thank the Advertiser for choosing us as their charity this year and we would like to wish all their readers and staff a very happy new year.

"The Hospice remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the Christmas and New Year period. We try to make it an even more happy environment than usual and this appeal has certainly given us all some extra cheer.

"The money that has come in so far is absolutely marvellous and, I have to say, it has exceeded all our expectations."

If your fundraising efforts have not yet been mentioned, don't worry. Our January 6 edition will carry the fully updated Roll of Honour, more stories of events held across the borough and the eagerly awaited total raised by the appeal. Without giving too much away, we can tell you that it is already well into five figures.

Once again, we would like to give a heartfelt thank you from staff at the Advertiser and the hospice - and remember, there's still time to hold an event or collection and to get your cash in before we announce the total next week.

HEADING our list of donations to Dr Kershaw's is local football club AFC Royton, which has pledged a staggering £1,600 to the Advertiser appeal.

The New Barn-based club recently held a reunion night in memory of Roy Tushingham, who was club secretary for over 30 years before his death.

About 200 former players, officials and friends of the club all attended the event at the Cartshaft Club, in Shaw, with a raffle and auction brilliantly supported.

Spokesman Barry Nixon said: "Roy's wife, Jackie, has lived just around the corner from Dr Kershaw's for several years and nominated the appeal to benefit from the event.

"Roy was a lovely guy, highly-respected in local football and was one of the longest-serving club secretaries in the area. He somehow kept two teams going while several leagues and clubs were folding in the area.

"The most unusual item auctioned was a momento of the club's history, including old league handbooks and photographs from the Seventies - it raised £700."

The club has been known under several names since its birth in the 1960s, including the Tank Regiment, Clayton Wanderers, the White Hart and The Britannia. With local leagues having folded, Royton now play in the Rochdale Alliance league.

A total of £3,220 was raised on the night which was split equally between Dr Kershaw's and St James' Hospital. The massive donation makes the club the largest contributors so far to our appeal.